Tech News
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Thermaltake SWAFAN 12/ 14 RGB
First Swappable Fan Blade Design by Thermaltake Now Available for Purchase
Taipei, Taiwan-August 18th, 2022-Thermaltake , the leading PC DIY premium brand for Case, Cooling, Gaming peripherals, and enthusiast memory solutions, is delighted to announce the first-ever swappable fan blade design here at Thermaltake, SWAFAN 12/14 RGB Radiator Fan is available for purchase now. One of the most prominent highlights of SWAFANs is that it has two types of fan blades that are swappable, not only enabling users to orient the airflow direction depending on however they like it but, meanwhile, providing glorious full RGB lighting of the fan. From tech lovers, pc builders, pc enthusiasts to modders, we can all appreciate how functionally capable this design is and take full advantage of its convenience. Let’s take a look at more details on SWAFAN 12/ 14 RGB below.
SWAFAN 12/ 14 RGB Radiator Fan’s name originates from “swap fan;” It features a swappable fan blade design, which provides more flexibility while building a PC since users can adjust the airflow direction by simply swapping out the fan blades enclosed in the package. As we continue to push boundaries and redefine the perfect user experience, we came up with this incredibly brilliant design, enabling users to build, test, and adjust the airflow orientation simultaneously and achieve the most optimal in-case airflow without unscrewing the installed fans every single time. Other than that, it is effortless for users to clean the fan blades by merely popping them out. Thus, this can save users so much time so they can spend their valuable time on things that matter to them. On top of that, we enclose a bearing lubricant for you to take care of your fan after multiple swaps.
For cooling performance, SWAFAN 12/ 14 RGB is no slouch, it comes with a powerful PWM-controlled fan that features a unique 9-fan blade design, which was deliberately engineered to generate high air pressure while keeping a large amount of airflow for both fan blades. It also has an enhanced fan speed of up to 2000 RPM, ensuring its impeccable competency in terms of cooling performance. Spectacular RGB lighting effects are the icing on the cake to suffice your need for aesthetics, providing three addressable LED rings with 30 ultra-bright LEDs in total with a coverage of 16.8 million uniformity colors. SWAFAN 12/ 14 RGB also adopts the latest 4th generation software controller, which brings an uninterrupted connection between RGB Software and components. Plus, light effects can be easily tweaked to your satisfaction through NeonMaker software or TT RGB Plus 2.0 to choose stunning RGB lighting effects that suit you.
To summarize, with incredible swappable fan blade design, easily customizable lighting effects, and amazing cooling performance, SWAFAN 12/ 14 RGB is ideal for any system you plan to build and it is in stock for purchase now.
For more information on Thermaltake SWAFAN 12/ 14 RGB, please visit:
SWAFAN 12:www.thermaltake.com/swafan-12-rgb-radiator-fan-3-fan-pack.html
SWAFAN 14: www.thermaltake.com/swafan-14-rgb-radiator-fan-3-fan-pack.html -
TSMC Chairman: Fabs Would Be ‘Not Operable’ If China Invades
I caught this story over at Extremetech.
As of this news posting the tensions are pretty high over Taiwan and the threat of Chinese invasion. For the past year the Chinese have been invoking cold war tactics by flying missions close to Taiwan, this causes the Taiwanese military to react and allows China to map out response times and locations of assets.
It also costs money, which can be a critical weapon during a war of attrition.
Right now, the question is "What if.." Currently the Chinese are holding military drills near the island and even launching missiles directly over which, is not only unsafe but is also careless and giving the impression that China wants to go to war but, doesn't want to be seen as the aggressor.
Liu said China’s dependency is “not a bad thing,” indicating he’s confident China wouldn’t invade solely for selfish reasons. Fears over the disruption of the Taiwanese chip supply and the resulting economic damage have been termed a “Silicon Shield” by analysts. It wouldn’t just be a Chinese problem though; US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo warned about it recently as well. She stated the US would go into a “deep and immediate” recession if US firms were abruptly cut off from TSMC’s supply. Apple, AMD, Nvidia, and Intel all depend on TSMC for their most advanced products. It’s one of the primary reasons the CHIPS Act was passed this week. It seeks to bolster US silicon manufacturing in order to reduce our dependence on China and Taiwan.
It will be interesting to see how things play out. Right now, the stalemate will continue, at least until some planned accident happens to disrupt the peace.
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G.SKILL Announces MD2 Mid-Tower PC Case
(5 August 2022) - G.SKILL International Enterprise Co., Ltd. is excited to announce the MD2 mid-tower PC case, a stylish ATX case designed for high-performance builds, featuring a sleek front panel design. Available in black or white, the MD2 mid-tower case is designed for versatile cooling options, a spacious interior, and comes with a 4mm tempered-glass side panel to show off the internal system hardware.
Stylish Front Intake Panel
The MD2 case front panel design is inspired by the S-curves of race tracks and incorporates side vents for improved airflow to keep internal components cool. The front panel RGB lighting is designed with a spring-loaded contact, in place of wiring, for easy removal and easy access during front fan installation or cleaning the front magnetic filter.Versatile Cooling Options
The roomy interior of the MD2 case offers a multitude of cooling configuration options to help keep internal components stay cool, with space for up to 7 case fans along the front, top, and rear of the case, or simultaneously up to two 360mm water-cooling radiators.
Spacious Interior Design
Designed to accommodate high-end hardware components, the MD2 case supports graphics cards of up to 395mm in length and supports CPU air coolers of up to 170mm in height. The MD2 case also offers ample storage drive installation options with up to two 2.5” SSD mounts and two convertible 2.5”/3.5” drive bays.About G.SKILL
Established in 1989 by PC hardware enthusiasts, G.SKILL specializes in high performance memory and gaming peripherals designed for PC gamers and enthusiasts around the world. Combining technical innovation and rock solid quality through our in-house testing lab and talented R&D team, G.SKILL continues to create record-breaking memory for each generation of hardware and hold the no. 1 brand title in overclocking memory. -
GIGABYTE Announces Cloud-Native Solutions, First to Launch an Arm-Based Motherboard with 256 CPU Cores
July 28, 2022 – GIGABYTE Technology, (TWSE: 2376), an industry leader in high-performance servers and workstations, today became the first-to-market with a dual-socket motherboard, MP72-HB0, that supports up to 256 Arm cores, making it ideal for cloud native workloads. Also, the launch includes two more servers, G242-P35 and G242-P36, to offer up to 120TB of NVMe (Gen4) storage capacity paired with Ampere® Altra® or Ampere® Altra® Max processors. These GPU-centric servers and motherboard will quickly find a home with hyperscaler and cloud workloads. Altra Max processors have predictable high-performance by having a high core count CPU with one thread per core, 128 threads on a monolithic 128-core chip. Multi-socket support and a wealth of PCIe/CCIX lanes make the platform highly scalable. At the same time, there is industry-leading power efficiency/core, which is highly sought after by our customers.
Ampere Altra Max advantages:
- High performance: Up to 128 cores with 128 threads
- High throughput: 128 PCIe 4.0 lanes (192 lanes in 2P)
- Optimized CCIX for inter-socket communication
- High performance-per-watt: 128 cores with 250W TDP
- High bandwidth and memory capacity: 8-channel and DDR4-3200
- Applications from Cloud to Edge
G242-P35 & G242-P36:
The -P35 and -P36 join the G242 family of single-socket Arm-based GIGABYTE servers designed to support dual-slot GPUs, by adding exclusive support for NVMe (Gen4) U.2 SSDs. Prior G242 servers focused on SATA only or SATA/SAS drive support; nonetheless, customer feedback proved a need to support NVMe U.2 drives. The major difference between the two new G242 servers is that the -P35 can support four dual-slot GPUs, while the -P36 is designed for NVIDIA Arm HPC Developer Kit and supports at max two dual-slot GPUs. Based on the Ampere Altra platform, there are 128 PCIe Gen4 lanes per socket, and of them, four Gen4 x16 lanes support CCIX for low-latency and cache coherency for the benefit of GPUs, FPGAs, network & storage adapters, and more. CCIX benefits and enables efficient heterogeneous computing by bettering the transfer speeds of PCIe 4.0 while leveraging the PCIe lanes. Applications for the new servers will definitely take advantage of this benefit.In terms of operating system support, all these new GIGABYTE products support OS from Red Hat, SUSE, Ubuntu, Fedora, Oracle, and Debian.
The product development spirit has always been a key factor in the growth and decisions of GIGABYTE. As a hardware focused company, it has been supporting in-house Arm solutions for nearly a decade. The Arm ecosystem is very familiar to and well-designed by our engineers to optimize new product offerings with a highly competitive proposition that expands the product portfolio and reaches every enterprise niche. The new motherboard and servers add to this spirit of invention offering our customers cloud-native solutions that are in demand.
Remote and Multiple Server Management:
As part of GIGABYTE’s value proposition, GIGABYTE provides GIGABYTE Management Console (GMC) for BMC server management via a web browser-based platform. Additionally, GIGABYTE Server Management (GSM) software is free to download and used to monitor and manage multiple servers. GMC and GSM offer great value while reducing license and customer maintenance costs. -
MONTECH Launches High Airflow ATX Case SKY ONE LITE
July 25, 2022, Taipei, Taiwan – MONTECH, an innovative PC components and peripherals brand, announces the SKY ONE LITE. The newest addition to the SKY series offers top cooling performance at a great value with a fine mesh front panel, 3 pre-installed 120mm high airflow fans, and an all-around anti-dust design. The SKY ONE LITE is equipped with modern and functional features such as a removable quick connect ARGB front panel, top I/O including a USB Gen 2 Type C port, and an easy swivel tempered glass side panel. And for the first time, a Frost White edition, which is completely white themed with white duster filters, grommets and silver screws. The SKY ONE LITE is available in Black US$69.99 and Frost White US$72.99.
High-End Performance
The SKY ONE LITE’s design provides the best airflow for high-end PC hardware. At the front, the fine mesh panel consists of 1.5mm diameter mesh holes spaced at 2.25mm apart, providing a 40.3% open area ratio for higher airflow yet prevents dust from entering the case. In addition to unrestricted openings at the top (filtered) and back of the case, 3 pre-installed 120mm high airflow fans (2 at the front, 1 at the rear) for ideal cooling performance. Users also have the option to upgrade cooling with up to 3x 120/140mm fans or up to 360mm radiator at the front, 2x 120/140mm fans or up to 280mm radiator at the top, 2x 120mm fans above the PSU shroud, and 1x 120mm fan or radiator at the rear.Compelling Front Panel and I/O
The SKY ONE LITE’s front panel balances functionality and aesthetics. In addition to its fine mesh design, the panel sports an 18 LED ARGB embedded vibrant light strip at the center, and an ARGB backlit MONTECH logo at the top. Powered via a contact pad, this means no messy cables for easy removal of the panel. Located at the top of the case, users can find the LED control buttons to quickly change between the 21 built-in light effects, or pass the lighting control to the motherboard RGB software. Located at the top of the front panel, the SKY ONE LITE offers a modern array of I/O including 2x USB 3.0, 1x Audio, and 1x mic port, as well as 1x USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-C port.Hinged Tempered Glass and Hardware Compatibility
Displaying the PC gracefully, the left side of the SKY ONE LITE is equipped with a tempered glass panel featuring a zero drill hole design to improve its sturdiness. Mounted on hinges, the panel can be quickly swiveled open and even removed for complete and safe access to the PC’s high-end hardware, which includes support for graphics cards of up to 350mm in length, CPU coolers of up to 170mm in height, ATX PSUs of up to 180mm, and up to 3x 2.5” SSDs and 2x 3.5” HDDs.Frost White Edition
The SKY ONE LITE is available in Frost White edition, an all-white design on the interior and exterior. The chassis has a high-quality white coating that is whiter than the standard white cases. The interior features white rubber grommets, white fans, and white dust filters. On the exterior, the SKY ONE LITE features a white frame, a white pull-tab for the side glass panel, and even silver screws.For more information
SKY ONE LITE Black:
https://www.montechpc.com/en/products_detail.php?nid=281&s_ok2=SKY ONE LITE Frost White:
https://www.montechpc.com/en/products_detail.php?nid=283&s_ok2= -
Huge Discounts on be quiet! Anniversary FX Hardware
Act fast! These discounts are only valid until the end of September while supplies last!
It is hard to believe that it is the 20th anniversary for be quiet!. It seems like just yesterday I was meeting with them during Computex and excited to hear about another case and cooler brand breaking into the US market. At the time I knew they had been around for a while but, didn’t realize how established the brand really was.
For the 20th Anniversary be quiet is launching the FX line of products and consist of the following:
Discounts of up to $30 USD can be found on the Pure Base 500 FX and Pure Loop 2 FX AIO cooler. A $13 USD discount can be found on the popular Pure Rock 2 FX if running an AIO isn’t your thing.
Pure Base 500 FX:
MSRP: $149.90 USD- Based on the acclaimed Pure Base 500DX
- Four preinstalled be quiet! Light Wings 120mm high-speed fans
- External and internal ARGB LED lighting
- ARGB and PWM fan hub included
- Great air flow
- USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type C
- Fits radiators up to 360mm
- Space for high-end GPUs
Pure Loop 2 FX
MSRP: $129.90/139.90/154.90 USD depending on configuration- Based on Pure Loop, but with new and improved pump that supports PWM control
- Available with 240mm, 280mm, 360mm radiator and up to 3 Light Wings PWM high-speed fans
- ARGB illumination on the cooling block replaces white LED ring
- Easy-to-access refill port with coolant bottle included in scope of delivery
Pure Rock 2 FX:
MSRP: $52.90 USD- Based on Pure Rock 2 Black
- Light Wings 120mm PWM high-speed fan replaces Pure Wings 2 fan
- 150W TDP
- Four 6mm heat pipes
- Asymmetrical tower construction to keep memory slots free
- Easy top mounting
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US Senate passes CHIPS Act 2022, bans recipients from expanding advanced chip capacity in specific countries
This is really big news and is designed to help companies design and manufacture the technology that is developed in the US. Currently many semiconductor designs are actually produced in Taiwan and China which not only increases the chance of Intellectual Property theft but also removes an important revenue stream from the United States.
The chips act is designed to change that.
The Senate on July 27 passed CHIPS and Science Act of 2022, bipartisan legislation in a vote of 64-33. A total of US$52.7 billion will be spent as a 5-year incentive for developing domestic semiconductor manufacturing capabilities and other programs.
In the legislation, section 103 stipulates that recipients of Federal incentive funds are prohibited from expanding or building new manufacturing capacity for "certain advanced semiconductors in specific countries that present a national security threat to the United States." Though China is not specifically mentioned therewithin, media such as CNBC and Reuters have interpreted that the CHIPS Act is to boost US production in competition with China.
Within the US$52 billion funding, US$39 billion is allocated over 5 years to subsidize the domestic chip manufacturing capacities; US$2 billion is provided to focus on legacy chip production to advance economic and national security interests; US$6 billion may be used for the cost of direct loans and loan guarantees.
As with most things in the US, this is just a loan so, it will eventually need to be paid back making the whole process more of an investment for the future with a "bail out" option when things eventually go sideways.
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Funky Kit Review - Kingston Fury Beast RGB 32GB DDR5-6000 Memory Kit
Wait, hold the presses! What the heck is this?? Kingston actually making "good" memory?? First, we have Micron abandoning a well-recognized retail brand with numerous world records all because their DDR5 DRAM is literal junk. And, here we have Kingston stepping up with 6000Mhz DDR5 memory modules that are actually pretty good.
What kind of world is this? Oh, right. it is the real world where the brave and intelligent actually get ahead.
Kingston Fury Beast RGB 32GB DDR5-6000 memory kit delivers high performance, excellent stability, great overclocking potential, and you get all that in an aesthetically pleasing form, with amazing RGB illumination that gives a soul to your PC. Whether you are a gamer or PC enthusiast, you will be fully satisfied with what this memory series has to offer.
The Kingston (formally HyperX, buy not HyperX cause HP) Fury Beast RGB appear to use heatspreaders from the previous generation and look pretty good. I wonder if they have the IR Sync feature or, if they figured out how to actually get all of the RGB lights to blink at the same time.
Maybe Funky Kit has that answer, check out the review!
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Antec DF800 FLUX Computer Case Review @ APH Networks
There was a time when I loved Antec computer cases. They were some of the best money could buy, the styling was spot on and the construction could rival some of the greatest projects in the known world.
Sadly, things went a little sideways for Antec and when they started to lose market share we started to see the company scramble to catch up and they never quite recovered. In my opinion their designs were either crap or worthless garbage so it makes me wonder what kind of case the Antec DF800 really is..
The Antec DF800 FLUX is an airflow-focused performance case with flashy RGB LED case fans.
APH Networks has a great review of the Antec DF800 where they talk about all of the major features and try to cover the critical points that most YouTube channels are famous for. In the end they give the chassis a decent score.
I'm not sure I would be so nice and call out the super thin metal used to build the chassis and the super lazy expansion card slot retention screws being on the OUTSIDE of the chassis. It might be able to move air around and you might be able to build in it but this case (and others like it) are the epitome of putting lipstick on a pig, it may look good but it is still rolls in its own crap.
Be sure to check out the review for more information
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Funky Kit Review - Desklab Ultralight Portable 4K Touchscreen Monitor
Ok, so the "hook" phrase got me interested enough to click on the link and then the photo of the product got me interested to find out what the heck it is.
If you find yourself needing a portable monitor and don't want to miss out on any features, then the monitor from Desklab is a great option to take a look at!
Basically, it is a Microsoft Surface tablet, without the tablet and options to allow for touch support and external video input. e.g. a Monitor.
What a novel idea. Check out the review for more details.
